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It's DeMulling

Heard from a few people that the Skins have deicded on Rick DeMulling. They spent more time tonight debating the decision and heard that both he and Vincent passed physicals, but they ended up going with DeMulling.

Not sure of exactly how they will go ahead with the transaction tomorrow, and who they will release, but I know that for now it looks like they will not be putting Randy on IR, though they will likely continue to gather info from the doctors and see how he heals.

They have been getting by without the two kids they claimed off waivers two weeks ago - Boyd and Bodiford - and are also carrying 6 safeties.

Heard Vincent's workout went pretty well, so he could still be a guy to watch down the road should, gasp, more injuries strike the line.

CL--Okay I've done my bit. I had some ideas I was saving for a guest blog, but I never could get it together. I've laid them out on your Wiki for others to improve and complete -- cliches we're (that is, the Royal We) tired of; who you can never criticize and who you can always criticize. I also put up Meg's Blog FAQs which always seemed interesting.

Comment: After being a three-year starter in Indianapolis, DeMulling has been inconsistent during the last two seasons with the Lions. He brings athleticism to the offensive line and seems to be a good fit at guard for the Lions' offense, which includes both pulling and trapping in the schemes. He is a solid technician and a knee-bender who plays with good body position and leverage. DeMulling excels when given the opportunity to block in space. He tracks defenders well and is able to get in position to make the block on the outside or on the second level. DeMulling's athletic feet and balance also show up in pass protection, as he does a nice job of bending his knees, has good hand placement and handles double moves and counter moves well. Where DeMulling does not shine is when faced with a power or bull rusher, because he does not anchor well and often will get run over. This problem is also evident in the run game when playing a stout two-gap defensive tackle, as he struggles to drive block physical defenders at the point of attack. For an offensive lineman with such athleticism and experience, DeMulling seems to lack awareness at times, not coming off protections to effectively pick up blitzers and sometimes burying his head on combination blocks and missing the next-level defender. These inconsistencies in DeMulling's play have been much more evident in Detroit than his first four seasons with the Colts.

Once again Inside the NFL on HBO doesn't give the Skins any props. The recap on the game was almost all about a retired Philly player and how the Eagles didn't play well. I tell you we get no respect and I like it! Lull them to sleep and then knock them in the mouth...

I've been on the "No DeMulling" bandwagon since I saw Jasno first mention his name. I've read numerous articles about this guy and there is no reason to believe that he will be any better than Fabini or Pucillo. I hope they don't think he's going to come in to start. This better be for depth only. Even so, I say bad decision especially when they had a better option right in the DC area.

DeMulling over Vincent? Obviously just another fan that only knows what this blog tells me, but tea leaves pointed toward Vincent. Early assumption is maybe DeMulling will be more receptive to Bugel's tutoring?

On a positive note.....Fabini did good against the EaGals other than the false starts. That will be worked on in practice and he should do fine so we won't have to worry about DeMulling. We're 2-0 and we're getting better. We'll be okay as a team.

Based on that scouting report, I can see why they went with DeMulling. He's athletic and good at pulling, which were things they used Randy for a lot. Plus, he was productive with the Colts (a good team) and then not so with the Lions (a bad team). Some good coaching from Buges and Gibbs will make him a better player than he was. And we may pick up Vincent as well given time. Besides, Fabini may not be great but he got the job done in a pinch.

Why does everyone assume that Vinnie made the decision rather than Joe Bugel?

Do you think cost might have been a factor? The 'Skins are pressing tight against the cap and they may not have been able to hire Vincent if the Rams are offering more than the vet minimum.

And, which DeMulling do you think we're getting? The one who played four good years in Indy -- where the coaching was excellent -- or the one who played two years in Detroit where coaching has been an issue?

He may have play "good" in Indy but the fact is that Indy gave him another chance to come back this year and they cut him because they said the younger guys were doing better. And Vinny is always the scapegoat no matter if he made the decision or not.

"Rick DeMulling came back after a couple years with the Lions, hoping to settle back into his former home with the Colts' offensive line. He wasn't up to par, and the Colts dumped him.

It's probably less painful getting cut by Colts coach Tony Dungy than any other coach, given his fatherly, encouraging demeanor. But you're still cut, and it's further proof there's no place for sentimentality in pro football.

DeMulling, who hoped to revive his career, would undoubtedly concur.

"We just felt like we had some of our younger players that were going to do a good job for us, and Rick wasn't playing that much better than some of the young guys," Dungy said."

OnceAgain, I watched Inside The NFL and totally agree with you. What bugged me even more is when they said that Dallas is "on top in the NFC East." Both the Skins and Boys are 2-0 - how did they get better than us? Because they have scored more points?

As for DeMulling, Sportsnet said he was very "versatile" - could play multiple positions on the O line. And it sounds like he is a backup and that Fabini will be the starter.

What do you guys think so far about the new skins beat reporter? Personally I don't like his writing style- at least what i've seen so far- it honestly seems like its written by a jr high school student

My whole point of all of these articles is because the Giant media is concerned with the Defense and they assume the offense can score easily.

I just hope we can continue being the under dog in the 1st half of the season. Especially on the defensive side. Campbell and Cooooooley are begining to get plenty of Face time. Did you notice the many questions about Coooooley in the Gibbs 2.4 and JC Q&A?

4th - Not wrong about Cooley, even before the game on Monday, I read an article, think it was sports illustrated, which was talking about him and saying if you don't know much about him, do some reading because he's a fun guy to follow, regardless of who your team is.

Scouting them out on Madden08 is no basis for a system of government.
Go break down the film for a couple of hours, then call each in for a workout. Then you can weigh in on this decision with more than a video game number in mind.

I heard that Vincent's biggest drawback is that he was sneaking cheetos onto the practice field. Which is fine, except he kept wiping the dust on his jersey -- making him "orange" and therefore unhittable.

I'm not as worried about the Giants as I'm worried about overconfidence.

The Skins beat two struggling teams and it took everything they had to win those games. But now the Skins are 2-0 and the positive spin has started. The rankings have improved. Has overconfidence crept in?

Luckily, there are still signs of disrespect to key on. In virtually every poll or power ranking, the Redskins are rated as the worst 2-0 team in the league. The point spread started at Redskins -4. -4! The home team usually gets a 3 point knock - so a 2-0 team playing a 0-2 team missing half it's starters is only a 4 point favorite? A one point shift? That is disrespect.

If only St. Joe believed in gambling, he could use that slight as motivation in the locker room.

My one true fear: Sally Jenkins.

Jobu.

She's out there, lurking in the tall grass, preparing a positive article that will jinx the Redskins, just like she did in '05.

mugs, the back story is that chris Larry is a techno whiz kid, and he's been agitating for some time for WashPo to outfit this here blog with some of that Web 2.0 gimcrackery... like the stuff Dan Steinbog does over on his thing.

cL and I discussed this the other night, and I opined that Steinbog doesn't appear obliged to do any actual reporting, so he can spend all day goofing around with his blog. Jasno, on the other hand, is on the horn with league experts and talent evaluators all his waking hours.

And Cindy loves us, that much is obvious, but she loves us like that cool aunt who lives in another state and so can pretty much dictate when and for how long she spends time with you.

And from WashPo's perspective this ol' blog is probably humming along just fine without all the bells and whistles they're using to prop up ol'Steinbog over there. Just a theory.

The Giants have faced the Redskins 150 times, making this their most frequently-contested rivalry. Last season the Giants swept Washington for the first time since 2002, earning a 19-3 victory in Giants Stadium on Oct. 8 and a 34-28 win in the season finale in FedEx Field on Dec. 30.

My excitement over the possibility that we will simply overpower the Gints -- which is what the first two weeks of the season seem to indicate will happen -- is tempered by my worry that we'll have trouble with them early and let them hang around, and we'll get frustrated and let this be a much closer game than it "should" be.

Coughlin didn't appear pleased questions about Redskins TE Chris Cooley's possibly stretching the field and said the short passing game that's been the problem with covering the tight end. When reminded the Cowboys' Jason Witten certainly ripped the secondary down the field, Coughlin agreed then said "We're going to argue about coverage? Is that what we want to do now?"

Watched Ricky Bobby on the plane, they had time for a double feature so we got that and then Spiderman 3. Spiderman 3 was kind of a mess. That franchise is kind of a mess, which is disappointing. But Ricky Bobby has really grown on me, even edited and bleeped it was good.

The past 2 years Gibril has not look like the same player as he did his rookie year where he had 3 interceptions and 3 sacks in 8 games. People have wondered why, but the reason has come out that he was in the completely wrong defensive system. Gibril was always responsible for covering the tight end, he said he also had to watch a run-gap away from the tight end. He then had to make a choice at the snap--cover the tight end or come in on run support--and he had to be right because there were no fail-safes behind him. If he was wrong, the whole coverage broke down.

I remain ambivalent about the Area 51 moniker. Area 51 is a super secret base in the desert where nothing officially happens, but there are a lot of rumors about it. I find that kind of weird and funny in a conspiracy theory sort of way, but not in the least menacing or frightening. And I find the thought of running a pass pattern in the vicinity of Messrs. Taylor and Landry to be menacing and frightening. And what happens in the Redskins D backfield is the opposite of secret, because there are usually plenty of cameras trained on the action. Even if we don't get replays of every hit...

DeMulling over Vincent? Obviously just another fan that only knows what this blog tells me, but tea leaves pointed toward Vincent. Early assumption is maybe DeMulling will be more receptive to Bugel's tutoring?

Posted by: Brendan | September 19, 2007 10:54 PM

DeMulling was probably more receptive to signing for the veteran minimum salary.

I find it hard to believe that DeMulling is a real name. Regardless, I wouldn't now DeMulling or Vincent from the fire hydrant across the street from my Compound/Condo, so whatever. We're down to third string at this point. Does it really make any difference?

Buges has to coach them up, Weird Al needs to do...whatever Weird Al does..., and St. Joe needs to find a way to keep winning.

All I know is that if the 'Skins can't win their bye week, I'm going to have to do it for them. With booze. Lots of it.

Lloyd called his advance look at Halo 3 the "number one" perk he's gotten as an NFL player. "Playing video games is such a major part of my life. This is what I do to unwind. This is what I do to be by myself and escape. I go in my game room and play video games.

Guys, we need to remember that Keydrick Vincent went and met with the Rams earlier in the day yesterday and did not get a contract offer from them either. So something must be up for them to go with DeMulling.

That is comical, but not suprising, about Lloyd. The guy is idiot and everyone has known this for years... yet another reason why I am still blown away by JOE GIBBS and co.'s decision to get him...

Anyway, word on the street is that DeMulling sucks. But I also thought Fabini sucked in the pre-season and he ended up playing pretty well on Monday night, so I guess we'll see.

If money was the deciding factor between this guy and K. Vincent, like someone suggested, then this where Arch's dead money, Lloyd's cap number, etc come back to really haunt you.

I also think the Skins need to hang onto Randy and cut a safety or one of those WR's. Can you imagine the boost, both on the field and emotionally, the team would get from a week 12-13-14 return from RT with the possibility of the playoffs looming???

One wish for the team: please, please, please don't listen or believe all the complimentary articles and broadcasts about the team since Monday night. These were the same folks who said you had no chance going into th egame, and many picked you to finish dead last in the East.

While it was a good win, you're capable of playing much, much better. And you'll need to on Sunday. The Giants are a proud team with a knack for rebounding when everyone thinks they're ready to implode. Monday's win will count for nothing if you lay an egg with a division loss at home on Sunday. Remember how easy it was for Tiki Barber the last time you played. Their O-line thinks it was their blocking more than Tiki's ability that led to his big night, and they want to prove that point on Sunday. Shut 'em down! This time it's our turn to show them how to run block and how to shut down the run!! Go 'Skins!

The sun doesn't shine in Area 51.It is a dark,cold,gloomy place where hope can neither penetrate or reside.Untold numbers of receivers have ventured into Area 51,only to return with horrible tales of what goes on there.Reggie Brown went into Area 51 Monday night.He just got back this morning.He had no comment.

Brilliant analysis! This is the third week of the regular season. Can you tell us who is available at guard (or any other position), for the vet minimum, that "word on the street" says is headed for the Pro Bowl?

This is definitely a trap game. Especially if we are favored (havent seen the line yet, anyone know?).

I hope Gibbs is saying to the to forget about the win in Philly, and 2-0 is not what they wanted to accomplish this year. They are far away from that goal. The next step in that goal is to take care of the divisional game, at home, sunday. Enough said.

A few of us put up some content last night, but one of the things that's missing from it is your characterization of the community as Mayberry. You might want to dust that thing off, update it as needed, and post it on the Wiki.

Man, give the coaches a break. If we were 0-2 and our line sucked, I could understand the criticism. But they have coached up this o-line, had mediocre talent fill in, and still done the job. How many sacks have we given up(that were not a result of JC holding on too long)?
I trust the coaches decision based on what has transpired thus far.

Giants WR's are just like the Iggles (is Plexiglass playing?), bump and run them.

Send 5 guys at Eli at all times. 4 DL,s and one blitzer. Never let him get comfy... we play bump and pressure = no deep passes. Everything in front and fly to the ball, punish them.

Have Taylor and L2 bracket Shockey early and get him outta his game. Once he starts complaining he will not be effective. Hit him late once with #51 and let him know 'all-day'.

On offense, start out 4 wide with one back. Get their LB's out of the game with this package and leave their D line alone on pressuring. Frustrate them... Their CB's are their achillies. Once they get down as a team, their will breaks.

Run Portis in the 1st Q, exclusively. Then Betts the entire second Q to grind them down. Then CP starts the 3rd for one drive (after they switch up their D to deal with Betts) which throws them off. Then put Betts back in for the rest of the 3rd Q.

4th Q ride CP.

Screens to Moss and El, all day. Cooley down the seam when they creep up.

All you folks who slammed my Madden 08 post need to take a chill pill. Madden is simply an educated 3rd party (albeit imperfect) opinion on player skills. If it didn't matter, then players wouldn't be lobbying to be a "100".

As to Lloyd vs. Randel El, before the start of this season, ARE had never proven himself as a #2 WR. Next year I suspect ARE will rate above The Wide Receiver.

Yes, I'm one of the people that think we let Pierce walk. But really, you really don't want me to get started. Although like the sand in the hourglass these are the days of...wait I mean time heals all wounds and i'm less fired up about it today than i was yesterday.

I know what you're referring to, but that dog don't hunt. The 'Skins made Pierce a good offer which he turned down and has been bad-mouthing the 'Skins ever since. He hasn't amounted to anything in New York (who has since Coughlin came?) and he likes to blame it all on the 'Skins.

Are you serious, dude? None of us (or at least very few of us) write for a newspaper or website. If you want analysis, go somewhere else, Richard Head!

This is a fan blog to have fun and talk/cheer/vent about our favorite team. Again, I ask (Jim Mora voice) analsyis??? ANALYSIS???????

Saying that, from what I've read on DeMulling, which includes quotes from Tony Dungy and other ANALYSTS on espn, foxsports, etc, is that he is an underachiever who basically sucks.

I'm not saying he'll suck here, but that is what I've read... I'm also not living in outer space to think that we can pick up a pro bowler at this time of the year. When did I say that? I just think we could have had a more serviceable guy, like maybe Vincent, with more cap room.

I don't even mind the guy moving on for, what? An extra 5%? What I object to is his running his mouth repeatedly about how bad the Redskins treated him. Laveraunes Coles moved on but when you ask him today about the Redskins he says "They're a player's organization. Kendall's lucky to be going there." Pierce has no class.

Only two regular-season games into the Ken Whisenhunt era, rumors already are flying receiver Larry Fitzgerald is looking to leave the Cardinals when his rookie contract ends.

Fitzgerald, as the rumor goes, is not a big fan of Whisenhunt's run-based offense, and for good reason. Fitzgerald currently is averaging only five catches and 53.5 yards per game, which puts him on pace for 80 receptions and 856 receiving yards for the season. He currently has no receiving touchdowns in 2007.

Good morning, good morning. Zebra, thanks for giving your opinion of Sunday's keys to the game. Looks solid to me.

Yeah it's more fun to figure the RI language out for yourself, but if the wiki link is only occasionlly posted in the comments, who are you really cheating? Only people who read the comments with a fair amount of thoroughness are going to find it.

"They were talking so bad about us on ESPN like we shouldn't have won the game. Please. We won and they still want to say that (Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb) had a bad game. We made him have a bad game." -- FB Mike Sellers, on the Redskins being dissed despite their 2-0 record.

I couldn't care less about Pierce.......now. It was a huge mistake to let him go that they just now remedied with Fletcher. But now that it is fixed who cares? I'd take Fletcher over him straight up, just wished they'd done it two years ago.

Gotta say that I've never seen DeMulling or Vincent play, they're both roughly the same age, size, and both started on teams that historically have had very good lines........and both unemployed for a reason. So I won't begin to say who they should or shouldn't sign, I trust Joe Bugel and Joe Gibbs to identify the better guy.

Scouting them out on Madden08 is no basis for a system of government. Go break down the film for a couple of hours, then call each in for a workout. Then you can weigh in on this decision with more than a video game number in mind.

...yet, I could swear this is how Vinny Cerrato scouts, especially last year. Honestly, how else can you miss the 'intangibles' (or in the case of Duh Reciever, the 'intangentials') of the players you're bringing in?

As to DeMulling vs. Vincent, it's already been said - it was probably a cap issue. Vincent has to know he's considered the top cow in the FA guard pool at the moment, so he probably asked for semi-top-billing money. He was probably more likely going to get it with St. Louis than he was here. Would have preferred the guy, but a working body is a working body, and we have to make do with the wafer-thin wiggle room we have with the salary cap.

As to the Pierce thing - are we going to visit that AGAIN? Last year's harping on it was enough. Heck, I know I was guilty of it. But Pierce and Ryan happened - it's done, and over with. We picked up a great find in LoFle'ker, so that bit of memory is on the wayside. Too bad Pierce is acting as he is, but I imagine that it's bound to happen when your teams is on the elevator headed towards the Deep, Deep South....

The salary cap wasn't an issue here, we have room and we could have structured a deal to get him if we wanted him but nobody (except a situation like Tank Johnson or Left-oversand-wich) gets a deal for anything over 1 year at the vet minimum at this stage of the season. For almost any guy out there they are just hoping for a call, a 1 year deal, and a chance to show they still have value and are worth signing in the offseason. Vincent won't get any better a deal than DeMulling or anybody else still out there.

chRIs Larry, what's with the ads on the wiki? Is someone getting minute fractions of coin for everytime someone visits the site?

Skinz, I didn't want to think about it till after the Giants game, but I was more confident about the putting the Lions and the Packer in the W column before the season started. [You guys know how I think the Lions are going to do this season ... but I will spare myself the flames reserved for peri and not repeat myself re: the Lions.]

I don't see the Giants as a trap game, but unlike the start of last season, I don't think the Skins are going into this game with their heads down and questioning themselves. This is why, in the preseason, the only MUST WIN for me was the Miami game. Its psychological. I think the Skins return to FedEx field on Sunday in a much better place psychologically than the Giants. There is a difference btwn arrogance and cautious confidence. Notwithstanding the O-line injuries (or maybe because of it), I think (hope) the Skins have the latter.

On DeMulling, with the critique from scouts.com, plus the Madden numbers, my only takeaway is that he is the guy for the right side of the line (i.e., the non-blind side guard). The bigger deal is going to be about his body awareness in relation to Rabach and Wade. Like other peeps here, I sense Fabini is going to do fine, develop his chemistry with Rabach/Wade, burn off his yips and reduce offsides penalties, and start until he gets hurt, at which point DeMulling takes the field. Just my guess anyway.

I have a feeling they switch it up this time and go for a pass. Either across the middle to Coooooley or a play action bomb to Moss. Then again I also had a gut feeling all last week that McNabb was going to be put out for the season which isn't all that out of the question considering how the Philly fans are calling for his head now.

I created it a while back, just trying to see into peeps personalitites on the blog. There were some regs off for the summer I never knew who are back in full effect and need to be added. As well as new regs.

redskins.com on Fabiani:
The 6-7, 309-pounder played for Dallas last season, but previously he was a long-time starting tackle with the New York Jets. He has started 114-of-129 regular-season games in his career.

6-7?? isn't this the reason wade couldn't adjust/become a guard? It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I graduated college the same year as Rick DeMulling and was a friend of his. He's a great player. He was on the Colts and Lions as we all know. He'll give 110% and was a great leader for the Idaho Vandals.

Looks to me like they decided to go with Fabini for now. Either Vincent still had injury issues from last season or he is more of a starter as opposed to a guy who does special teams stuff. Based on recent experience Demulling has spent more time as a backup / special teams guy than as a starter over the last 2 years. Vincent has started almost exclusively.

They still might bring Vincent back depending on how things go this week. I wouldn't be surprised to seem them do some rush training at guard with Heyer. Thomas likes Heyer and could help him. Technically, if he really is the "sixth man" Bugel envisions then he would have to learn that position next. So I am going to assume they go with Fabin, while they start working with Heyer at guard and if things don't go well with Fabini they bring in Vincent. By next season they should have a pretty solid OL with depth ala the Eagles.

"The 6-7, 309-pounder played for Dallas last season, but previously he was a long-time starting tackle with the New York Jets. He has started 114-of-129 regular-season games in his career."

Guys like Joe Jacoby, Ray Brown, Raleigh McKenzie played both positions. In the case of McKenzie he played center as well. I think perhaps Jasno sometimes missing things ... he has these preset notions or perceptions, (that Joe Gibbs is as conservative as Marty Marge Schottenheimer or George Allen which is L-U-D-I-C-R-O-U-S!!! After the end of the 1st half call by Gibbs I think we can put that to rest RIGHT, Jasno?), that cloud his keen observations.

I think he keeps missing the ball on the quiet kid behind the scenes, Stephon Heyer. I think that he is now the new "project" and will be taught to play guard. If he learns it as fast as he did tackle you could see him out there playing the role Buges seems to have envisioned for him ... the sixth man coming in at tackle and guard ala Jacoby, McKenzie, and Brown. A perfect choice given his popularity with the starting veterans.

I think the worm has turned for Green & really think Lemon would be a good choice - still too early for the new blood as far as I'm concerned.

what do you think of the JayTay and ZakTom trade clamors?

Posted by: Dik | September 20, 2007 11:34 AM

I'm not sure if Green is done yet, I think we'll need another game or two to truly know one way or the other. We committed SO many bone-headed errors against the grrls that we probably would have lost even if he hadn't thrown the INTs. Lemon is a serviceable backup but scares no-one in the NFL.

I posted the Salguero column here yesterdat talking about JT and maybe Zach being traded.

I actually think it would be good for them to finish with a team that has a chance to win (we don't) and would be good for the Fins by helping us move the whole rebuilding along by freeing cap space and maybe adding some draft picks. It would also help the fans get their expectation levels set right.

What a victory against the Eagles. That was a game we never would have won in previous years. There was so much repping to the death in Glover Park. Bourbon Rick cut his Diesel jeans off into daisy dukes and rolled up with his stunning GF with a white tee and hiking boots. When the chips seemed down, we drank some small batch, Michter's bourbon, the greatest bourbon in the world. But again, that's why we call him Bourbon Rick.

There has been a lot of focus on LaRon Landry, and rightfully so (We told you he was tight...remember...about a year ago we were talking about how if the Skins didn't draft him, we would all die?).

But being lost in the shuffle, is the EVolution of Sean Taylor. Oh my God. The dude is having an absolutely monster first 2 games. No one, and I mean no one, is throwing to him down the middle. No one. Unbelievable. I feel like I am watching the old Deion Sanders aka Sanderclaus (WHAT!). No one is testing him. And I don't know if there's anyone in the league that is better at the delayed blitz than Unicron (my new name for Sean Taylor...Unicron ate planets. Watch the movie).

And Unicron is bringing the noise in the rare instance that someone throws on him. I think we see our first Unicron INT this weekend.

Looking forward to 4 o'clock on Sunday while we listen to French electronica, drink bourbon and watch B-Reezy do his world famous low-dance. ArtMonkToTheSticks knows what I'm talkin about.

sween, I think I'll leave the Minister of Nicknames to you, nowadays. It's not like last year, where it was easy to be sarcastic about the team. Archabingus, Two-Wrongs, Speedbumph, Can't Getta - it was easy to pick fun at players last year. Now, there's noone to really pick on. I mean, there's The Receiver, or 'Duh (Receiver)' in my particular parlance, but the rest of the team has performed reasonably well this year. Making the transition from positive negativism to positive positivism has been rough on the nickname industry....

From the perspective of the Skins' D, Derrick Ward has to be viewed as a liability. Explosive rusher with fresh legs. With Eli pulling his best Brunell, the Giants will remember that they are an NFC East team ... and will pound, pound, pound up the middle. This will be the Westbrook Test, part 2.

I agree that the Skins will pick on Aaron Ross, but he himself is a quasi-stud, first rounder, most recent Jim Thorpe award-winner, fast and -- unlike Carlos Rogers -- has a TON of picks from his college campaign in Texas. If they DO target on him, they need to do it in the first few plays ... when he still has his first game starter yips. If he gets comfortable, it could get ugly. Personally, I thought he should have been the top CB in the draft (at least ahead of Revis) ... of course, that was all just based on stats, having played college ball in a winning tradition, and mock draft reports, but still, that guy is a flashing yellow for me.

Okay, still here. The only way the Redskins lose this game is if the defense plays like it did last year. There is little evidence of this but it does nag at the back of my mind that some team will figure out how to catch the ball, hit the open man or break that tackle on 3rd down and keep the chains moving.

Why are some still mentioning Antonio Pierce and the Redskins in the same sentence...He's gone!!!

In Buges I Trust...If he can coach up an undrafted free agent to not give up a sack versus an all pro D-End, and he can lose two starters on his right side and still run for 191 yards, then he's my man. Is there an award for Assistant Coaches. Hell, maybe Ray Brown is serviceable.

I really dig these throwback jerseys and think the "R" helmets are okay, but I kind of wish we hadn't gone with yellow britches. They're just not going to look like the Skins, IMO. Burgundy trousers would have been more aesthetically pleasing, even if not 'historically accurate.'

I'm in the minority opinion in that I did not like the 70th anniversary costumes we wore. Just didn't do anything for me.

And I prefer the "center line single feather" helmet design over any other design worn before the current Indian head one.

But I should stress that neither of our throwbacks is anywhere in the vicinity of the throwback abominations the Eagles and Steelers are wearing to celebrate their 74th seasons. Those awful things should be piled up at midfield and burned.

While uni talk is going on, do you guys prefer the burgundy or the white jersey? I like the burgundy better, maybe because they're a novelty with gibbs choosing to where the white at home and we only see the burgundy maybe once or twice per year.